LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2004 May (CSNS) Signature Sale #346 - Session 2  / 

6892

1875-S 20C PR60 Details, Artificial Toning,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1875-S 20C PR60 Details, Artificial Toning,
<table><tr><td><table><tr><td>1875-S 20C PR60 Details, Artificial Toning, NCS. Little solid information is known about why and when this branch mint proof was struck, and what (if any) occasion could have prompted its manufacture, other than as a commemoration of the first year of production for the new denomination. Breen estimates 12 pieces were coined in the San Francisco mint, and states that these pieces exhibit pronounced proof characteristics. Unfortunately, the dies used to strike these coins were later used for regular business strikes, as a number of normal production pieces have been examined and found to bear the same diagnostics as the branch mint proofs. The discovery coin was made by Walter Breen at the 1964 ANA. That discovery specimen was later sold by Pine Tree Auctions in September 1973 and brought an impressive $5,800. The diagnostics were first published in an article by Roy Rauch in The Gobrecht Journal in 1974. The diagnostics he listed are: three horizontal scratches in the bars of the shield and a small triangular die chip very near the staff just below the hand. On the reverse, there is a small scratch from the bottom leaf above the T in CENTS to the S in CENTS, and there is pronounced separation from overzealous die polishing on the bottom serif of the S in CENTS. All these diagnostics are present on this coin except the three horizontal scratches. The fields have a definite proof reflectivity, far beyond what one would expect from a prooflike business strike. Also, the rims are wide and even around both sides. The striking details are not absolutely complete, but not all branch mint proofs show the same strength of strike as their Philadelphia counterparts. It may well be that branch mint personnel were not familiar with the requirements for proof production as were employees in Philadelphia--they may well have been more concerned with producing a "pretty coin" for some occasion, than adhering to the rigorous requirements of proof coinage in the mother mint. Deep blue-gray toning covers the obverse, while the reverse displays a rich golden-brown patination. The obverse coloration is especially questionable. A few small contact marks and slide marks are seen over the surfaces, but there are none that are large enough to be used as reliable pedigree identifiers. This branch mint proof is seldom offered at public auction encapsulated by a major certification service, and as such this presents a rare opportunity for specialists. <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid. <BR><BR><B>IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT RESERVES:</B> Heritage now divulges all reserves on its web site 7 days before every auction. If you want to know whether the reserve on this lot has been met, and if not, what the reserve amount is, please visit this lot page on the HeritageCoin.com web site, or email: bid@HeritageGalleries.com </span></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>
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